If you’re making a list of things to pack for a staycation, you might have realized that it is trickier than it seems to decide what to bring. You know more or less what to expect when you’re staying so close to home, but in some ways, you still need to treat it as a traditional vacation because nothing will kill that holiday mood like having to trek all the way home to pick up items you forgot to bring. 

Here is a look at some of the most important things to pack for a staycation.

1. A good mosquito spray 

Regardless of your habits when you’re at home, there is a good chance you’re going to be outside most evenings on your staycation. Unfortunately, mosquitoes love spending time outdoors just as much as we do! If you have no desire to become their next feast, you’ll need to douse yourself in mosquito spray before you head out in the evening. For some reason, mosquitos seem to flock to my daughter, so I like to bring a kid-friendly, natural mosquito spray and use it on all of us.

2. Food and snacks

Part of the fun of going on holiday is eating out, but we’re used to eating 3 meals + 2/3 snacks daily. If we don’t, we’ll end up over-indulging during the main meals and that’s something I’m not keen on. To stay healthy and keep up our meal routine, we like to pack some food and snacks that are simple to prepare. Fruit, nuts, energy balls and overnight oats are all easy to pack and transport and keep everyone’s hunger at bay.

3. A ‘new’ toy 

Yes, I put ‘new’ in quotes here because when I say that I bring a new toy with us, I’m using the word a bit loosely. That’s because sometimes I put away something that Nina loves for a while and then pull it back out again when we go away so it’s more exciting for her to play with. I also like going to my local dollar store and getting things like little craft packs that will keep her entertained while I’m getting ready but won’t cost the earth.

4. A light sweater for evenings 

I really hope you didn’t put away all of your sweaters when summer set in, because a light sweater is a must-have when you are on a staycation. Even on summer days, it is always breezy when you’re seaside, and you’ll be thankful you have something to throw on over your cute sundress when it starts to get chilly. PS: this recent heatwave was the exception 😅

5. A baby monitor – even if you don’t have a baby

Our days of needing a baby monitor for traditional purposes may be long gone, but we still have ours and I always take it with us when we go on holidays. For example, it’s great in hotels when Nina is sleeping and we want to go on the balcony in the evening, or when we book a big farmhouse in Gozo. Having a baby monitor means that us adults can enjoy the evening with the peace of mind that comes from knowing that we’ll hear the kids if they wake up. It’s even handy when they’re just playing in another room as an extra precaution – you never know what can go wrong when you’re in an unfamiliar environment!

Deciding what things to pack for a staycation can be a little overwhelming. In many ways, you want to bring many of the same things you would bring on any type of holiday, but these five items can really make your trip a lot more successful.

Happy staycationing!

Love,

Nakita xxx

PS: Have you checked out my FREE staycation planner? From packing lists, to meal plans and shopping lists, to outfit planners and more – it’s the ONLY thing you need to take the stress away from planning your next staycation. Get your hands on it here.